Telephone booths

ABSTRACT

A telephone booth includes a back, side panels attached to the back, and a shelf and a top attached to the side panels. Each of the side panels have fastening members which are positioned within cooperating openings on the back. One fastening member for each side panel has a plurality of threaded openings to receive a locking lug, thereby firmly locking each of the side panels into the back. There are outwardly-opening slots, each having an intermediate pin, in each of the side panels for use in mounting the shelf to the side panels.

nIted States atent 1191 1111 3,845,596

Ertl Nov. 5, 11974 [5 TELEPHONE BOOTHS 3,327,447 6/1967 Nissley 52/582 3,445,969 5/1969 Sherron 52/239 X [75] Inventor- Edward McHenry 3,511,941 5/1970 Quigley 52/36 x 73 Assigneez Acoustics Development Corporation, 3,634,983 1/1972 Welch 52/36 Northbrook 3,661,410 5/1972 LHISOII 81111.. 52/582 X 3,731,956 5/1973 HzInley 52/582 X Fl (1: [22] July 16 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1211 APPL 379,651 983,871 2 1965 01011181112111] 85/9 R 1,349,422 12/1963 France 52/582 630,416 11/1961 Canada 312/263 [52] [18' CL 513,367 4/1932 Germany 151/5 [51] Int. Cl E0411 1/14 [58] Field of Search 52/753 c, 753 J, 753 K, Primary "7 Abbott 52/756, 711, 753 Y, 753 F, 755; 403/3 an! Exammer Lesl1e Braun 179/1 3; 10 /152 0; 24 /239; 312/2 5 Attorney, Agent, or FIrmK1nzer, Plyer, D0111 &

195, 263; 85/9; 151/5, 68 McEachra" [56] References Cited [57] ABSTRACT UNITED STATES PATENTS A telephone booth includes a back, side panels at- 1,438,312 12/1922 Kerwin 151/5 tached to the back, and a shelf and a top attached to 1,542,682 /19 5 Evans 151/5 the side panels. Each of the side panels have fastening Lum 1. members are positioned ooperating 2 218 222 32 Q" 52/753 openings on the back. One fastening member for each 2'834065 g fi g g side panel has a plurality of threaded openings to re- 28428l4 H1958 ag i 1 X ceive a locking lug, thereby firmly locking each of the 2 9 2 Baht-lei." C X side panels into the back. Therfi are outwardly- 3,072,227 1/1963 Baker 52/582 p g $1018, each having an intermediate P in 3,110,934 1 1/1963 Triplett 52/36 X each of the side panels for use in mounting the shelf to 3,164,868 1/1965 Hannula et a1. 52/36 the side panels. 3,300,917 1/1967 Bartley et a1. 52/36 6/1967 Weiss 6161 108/152 X 11 Claims, 9 Drawmg Flgllres TELEPHONE BOOTHS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to telephone booths and particularly to a wall mounted booth which may be shipped in a disassembled condition and easily and quickly completed on the site.

A primary purpose of the invention isa telephone booth of the type described in which the side panels are mounted on the back frame through the cooperation of keyhole-type openings on the back frame and cooperating studs on the side panels.

Another purpose is a telephone booth assembly of the type described in which locking studs are provided for locking the side panels onto the back after assembly thereto.

Another purpose is a telephone booth assembly of the type described in which each of the side panels have outwardly-extending openings and pins intermediately positioned in the opening, with the telephone shelf of shelves interlocking with the side panels through the use of hook-shaped members.

Another purpose is a side panel construction of the type described which can accomodate a pair of shelves to mount similar booths in a side-by-side manner.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated in the following drawings wherein:

FIG. I is an exploded view of a telephone booth assembly of the type described,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section along plane 2-2 of FIG. 1,

. FIG. 3 is a section along plane 3-3 of FIG. 2,

.FIG. 4 is a section along plane 44 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical section through a side panel, with a pair of shelves installed for side-by-side booths with one common side panel,

FIG. 6 is a section along plane 6-6 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a modified form of shelf,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial top view of the shelf of FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a section along plane 9-9 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention relates particularly to a com pact easily constructed telephone booth which may be shipped in a disassembled condition and readily put together at the site. The booth comprises basically a back. side panels, a bottom shelf and a top. All members are flat and may be easily shipped in a space saving carton. During assembly the side panels are first mounted onto the back frame, after which the shelf and the top are moonted to the side panels. The construction of the side panels is particularly advantageous in that several booths may be mounted together, side by side, and only one side panel need separate adjacent booths.

In the drawings, the back is indicated generally at 10 and may include side frames 12 and 14, a central support 16, and bottom and top rails 18 and 20. The side frames 14 and 12 and the bottom and top rails 18 and 20 may be welded together or otherwise fastened together in a suitable manner and the central support 16 may be attached by suitable welds or other suitable manner to the top and bottom rails. As illustrated in FIG. 1, there may be a number of openings 22 in the central support 16, with these openings being used to accomodate the fastening means and mounting means for a pay telephone.

The back may be completed by a pair of spaced acoustic panels 24 positioned on opposite sides of the central support 16. A perforated cover 26, having openings 28 in alignment with the openings 22, may adhesively mount the acoustic panels 24.

Side panels are indicated at 30, there being one at each side of the back. Each side panel has a pair of outwardly-opening slots 34 adjacent the top thereof, which slots each contain an intermediately mounted pin 36. In like manner, there are downwardly-opening pockets or slots 38 at the bottom of each of the side panels, again with an intermediately mounted pin 40.

Each of the side panels have threaded studs indicated at 42, 44 and 46. These studs may be inserted and turned finger-tight in the side panels during assembly. The top two studs 42 and 44 are conventional, whereas, the bottom stud 46, illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 and 4, may have a plurality, in this case four, generally equally spaced threaded openings in its head. The openings are indicated at 50 and the head is indicated at 52. The stud 46 is also turned finger-tight in the side panels during assembly. Each of the side frames 12 and 14 have three keyhole-shaped openings 54. When the side panels are assembled to the back, the studs 42, 44 and 46 are inserted through the portion of largest radius in the keyhole-shaped openings 54, after which the side panel is slid downwardly until the shank portion 57 of each stud is positioned in the portion of smaller radius 56 of each of the keyhole-shaped openings 54. Thus, the studs and keyhole-shaped openings cooperate to fasten the side panels to the back 10. After the side panels have been so assembled, locking members 58 are inserted through openings 60 in the bottom rail 18, which. openings are in alignment with one of the threaded openings 50 in the bottom stud 46. Thus, when the locking studs 58 are inserted through the openings 60 and into the bottom studs 46, the side panels are then firmly locked to the back 10.

The bottom shelf, indicated generally at 62, may have corner-shaped brackets 64 at each side. each of which have upwardly-extending hooks 66 which are formed and adapted to fit within the slots 38 on the bottom of each side panel. Thus, in assembly, the hooks 66 will be positioned within the slots 38 and the pins 40 will interlock with the hooks to mount the shelf to the side panels. The back of the shelf may be locked to the wall mounting bracket with slotted hex-head screws 63 as shown in FIG. ll.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a modified form of shelf which is in the nature of an open shelf rather than a closed shelf as described above. In this case, the shelf 68 includes side members 70 and intermediate bars 72 which extend between side members. There are hooks 74, similar to the hooks 66, mounted on each of the corner brackets 75, which brakets are mounted on side members 70. The interior or inside surface of each of the side members 70 have grooves 76 which have the same height as that of the cross bars 72. Thus, the bars 72 may have their ends positioned within the grooves 76 of the side members 70 and screws or similar fastening members 79 may pass fromwthe outside of the brackets 75 through side members 70 and into the bar ends to hold the bars and side members together as a rigid unit.

A booth top is indicated generally at 80 and may include a top shelf 82 having side hooks 84 formed and adapted to interlock with the slots 34 and pins 36 in the top of each of the side panels. Above the shelf 82 is a display portion 86 or a canopy which may or may not be illuminated and which typically will be attached in a suitable manner to the shelf portion 82.

The booth top 80 may be attached to the side panels 30 in the same manner as shelf 62 or shelf 68.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the manner in which a plurality of booths are assembled side-by-side. Each side panel 30 accomodates a pair of shelves. The slots 38 in the bottom of each side panel and the slots 34 in the top of each side panel are each of a sufficient width to accomodate two side-by-side hooks. Thus, side panel 30 may separate adjacent booths which are mounted in a side-by-side manner and will provide the support for both the top and the bottom shelves of the adjacent booths.

Of particular importance in the invention is the manner in which the side panels are attached to the back. The studs on each of the side panels fit within the keyhole-shaped slots on the back and are then slid downwardly to a position in which there is an interlock between the studs and the back. The bottom stud has a plurality of threaded openings and the bottom studs, when inserted, are turned to such degree that one of the threaded openings will be in alignment with the hole in the bottom of the back. Thus, a locking stud may be used to firmly lock the side panels to the back.

Also of importance is the disposition of the outward-' ly-opening slots and the intermediately-positioned pins in each of the side panels to receive the hooks on the top and bottom shelves. in this regard, it is important that the slots have a width sufficient to hold a pair of hooks in a side-by-side manner so that a single side panel may separate two different booths and form the support for the top and bottom shelves of two adjacent booths.

In one form of shelf, illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9,'

the side members have interiorly directed grooves or slots which are of a width just sufficient to accomodate the cross bars. Thus, the ends of the cross bars are rigidly held within the grooves to provide a strong and secure open shelf framework.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be realized that there may be many modifications, substitutions and alterations thereto.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A telephone booth assembly including a back, a pair of side panels and a shelf,

said back including spaced side frame members, a

plurality of openings in each side frame member facing toward the side panels, each side panel having fastening members extending through said openings to attach the side panels to the back, one of said fastening members for each side panel ineluding a plurality of threaded openings, and locking means for each side panel extending through said back and into locking engagement with one of the fastening members for each side panel, said locking means having a threaded portion for engagement with one of the threaded openings in the fastening members,

and interlocking means for mounting said shelf to said side panels.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said back includes bottom and top frame members, with said locking means extending through the bottom frame member and into locking engagement with one of the fastening members for each side panel.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said locking members extend from beneath the back, into the back, and into locking engagement with the bottom fastening member for each side panel.

4. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that the bottom fastening member for each side panel has four generally equally spaced threaded openings for receiving its locking member 5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that each of said plurality of openings includes a portion having a large radius and a second portion having a smaller radius.

6. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the means for mounting the shelf to said side panels includes at least one slot in each side panel and a pin intermediately spaced in the slot and extending from side to side, said shelf including a plurality of hook members constructed to be positioned in said slots and interlocked with the pins.

7. The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that each side panel has a plurality of said slots opening downwardly of said side panel, with each side of the shelf having an equal number of hook members.

8. The structure of claim 7 further characterized by and including a top for said telephone booth, each side panel having a plurality of upwardly-opening slots, with pins intermediately extending from side to side in each slot, and a plurality of hook members on said booth top for interlocking with the pins in the slots.

9. The structure of claim 7 further characterized in that each of said slots have a width sufficient to accomodate two hooks for use in attaching two shelves to the same side panels, with said shelves extending in opposite directions.

10. The structure of claim 9 further characterized by and including a top for said telephone booth, each of said panels having a plurality of upwardly-opening slots and pins intermediately positioned within said slots, the width of said slots being sufficient to accomodate two hooks, arranged side by side, to mount two tops to the same side panel.

11. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said shelf includes a frame having spaced side rails, with bars extending between said rails, each of said rails having an inwardly-extending groove of the same thickness as the bars, with the ends of said bars being positioned within said grooves. 

1. A telephone booth assembly including a back, a pair of side panels and a shelf, said back including spaced side frame members, a plurality of openings in each side frame member facing toward the side panels, each side panel having fastening members extending through said openings to attach the side panels to the back, one of said fastening members for each side panel including a plurality of threaded openings, and locking means for each side panel extending through said back and into locking engagement with one of the fastening members for each side panel, said locking means having a threaded portion for engagement with one of the threaded openings in the fastening members, and interlocking means for mounting said shelf to said side panels.
 2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said back includes bottom and top frame members, with said locking means extending through the bottom frame member and into locking engagemenT with one of the fastening members for each side panel.
 3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said locking members extend from beneath the back, into the back, and into locking engagement with the bottom fastening member for each side panel.
 4. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that the bottom fastening member for each side panel has four generally equally spaced threaded openings for receiving its locking member.
 5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that each of said plurality of openings includes a portion having a large radius and a second portion having a smaller radius.
 6. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the means for mounting the shelf to said side panels includes at least one slot in each side panel and a pin intermediately spaced in the slot and extending from side to side, said shelf including a plurality of hook members constructed to be positioned in said slots and interlocked with the pins.
 7. The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that each side panel has a plurality of said slots opening downwardly of said side panel, with each side of the shelf having an equal number of hook members.
 8. The structure of claim 7 further characterized by and including a top for said telephone booth, each side panel having a plurality of upwardly-opening slots, with pins intermediately extending from side to side in each slot, and a plurality of hook members on said booth top for interlocking with the pins in the slots.
 9. The structure of claim 7 further characterized in that each of said slots have a width sufficient to accomodate two hooks for use in attaching two shelves to the same side panels, with said shelves extending in opposite directions.
 10. The structure of claim 9 further characterized by and including a top for said telephone booth, each of said panels having a plurality of upwardly-opening slots and pins intermediately positioned within said slots, the width of said slots being sufficient to accomodate two hooks, arranged side by side, to mount two tops to the same side panel.
 11. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said shelf includes a frame having spaced side rails, with bars extending between said rails, each of said rails having an inwardly-extending groove of the same thickness as the bars, with the ends of said bars being positioned within said grooves. 